Whilst I'd love to write this match report with positive undertones after a battling second half performance, I'm finding it difficult to see beyond the absolute lunacy that caused us to throw a winnable game away.
The team selection was OK, although I was baffled as to how Taundry kept his place. Beevers in for Westlake was justified and Wilson naturally stepped in for his debut.
For the umpteenth time this season, we never got started. MK Dons had all of the ball and we resorted to aimless long balls to relieve any pressure. Taundry was completely anonymous on the right so naturally (sarcasm alert) Smith shifted him over to the left. The mind boggles. Then came the game's main talking point.
Walker caught a long ball just outside of his box. Regardless of the rules, this proved that Smith's decision not to have a keeper on the bench was nothing short of idiotic. Beevers took the gloves and Macken - our main striker and target man - was replaced by Paterson. Inevitably, Lewington drove the resulting free kick past our defender between the sticks to make it 1-0.
Shellshocked, we struggled until half time and MK Dons put the result beyond doubt before half time after Jabo Ibehre poked home a rebound, with the linesman failing to notice Luke Chadwick standing at least 5 yards offside. Just when we thought the game couldn't get any tougher.
In fairness, we came out for the second half with a new lease of life and the bit between our teeth. Gnakpa looked a real threat coming inside from the right and Paterson was an outlet on the opposite side. Arguably it was a lack of presence up front which prevented us from getting back into the game.
The second half also saw something happen that we're never likely to see again. Gnakpa fired a shot past the MK Dons goalkeeper, which hit the post, bounced across to hit the other post, before skimming off the original post and wide. A goal just wasn't to be.
Beevers was a rock between the sticks as he saved everything he was required to, and Paterson saw a 25 yard drive tipped wide by their 'keeper before the game petered out to its inevitable conclusion.
Impressive second half displays from Gnakpa, Paterson and Wilson in particular are worth taking some heart from, but the damage was done long before they got going.
The players deserve a pat on the back for their second half efforts, for sure. But the managerial decision not to have a goalkeeper on the bench, coupled with his decision to take Macken off, hampered the unlikely chance we might have had to get something from the game. Sadly, I don't think Smith can claim the benefit of the doubt from any of us this evening.
RESULT: Walsall 0 Milton Keynes Dons 2 (Lewington 35' Ibehre 45')
By: Rob Jones